SUMMER 2025 I SSUE 153 MOUN TA I N E E R I N G . I E € 3 . 9 5 UK£ 3 . 4 0 | I S S N 0 7 9 0 8 0 0 8
Live for the challenge the connection the freedom Live for the line Freja Shannon Grandes Jorasses Traverse Chamonix, France mountain-equipment.com
3 CONTRIBUTORS Ricky Bell Jane Carney Liam Feeley Jason King Youth Development NI Training Chief Executive Officer Get Ireland Walking Helen Lawless Access + Environment Cóilín MacLochlainn Editor Indira Nair Books Editor Jackie Newton Performance Lead Siobhán Quinn Administration Ruth Whelan Hillwalking Jimmy Barry Ann Collins-Mac Seoin Simon Holmes Kevin Kilroy Iain Miller Anne Morrissey Jim Ryan Click Photos to Navigate
4 CONTENTS NEWS 09 Mountain Environment Weekend Helen Lawless 24 Club Support Regional Meetings FEATURES REGULARS 14 Mountaineering Ireland AGM 2025 Siobhán Quinn 16 Ice climbing champion Eimir McSwiggan joins Mountaineering Ireland team 21 Wicklow Trails app launched Aaron Byrne 26 Donegal trad Iain Miller 30 My path to the Lowland Leader Simon Holmes 34 Survey prize winners 36 Hillwalk Routes No 2 The Cooleys Anne Morrissey 54 Cochamó Expedition 2024 Kevin Kilroy 42 Galtymore Crosses Jimmy Barry 48 Cowboy Country Jim Ryan 62 Trek to Everest Base Camp Ann Collins-Mac Seoin 68 Hiker Extraordinaire Cóilín MacLochlainn 82 Crossword Brian Kennan 102 Performance Development Jackie Newton 83 Hillwalking Ruth Whelan 90 Access + Environment Helen Lawless 106 Climbing Ricky Bell 111 Get Ireland Walking Jason King 95 Training Jane Carney 115 Book Reviews Editor Indira Nair Click Titles to Navigate
5 MOUNTAIN LOG EDITORIAL This summer 2025 issue is our first fully digital Mountain Log and with a refreshed style tailored specifically for online access. We hope you enjoy it. Though the format has changed, the same care and passion has gone into creating something just as engaging and insightful as our print editions. Listening to our members is very important to us. Whilst we have had to make the transition to a hybrid Mountain Log for cost reasons, we want to ensure we are getting it right. We are keen to receive feedback, either positive or negative, on this digital edition of the Mountain Log. If you would like to share your thoughts, please email us at [email protected]. As mentioned in our last issue, the autumn 2025 issue will be a printed magazine. It’s been a busy and exciting few months across Ireland. Mountaineering Ireland clubs and members have been out making the most of the long days and good weather. One of the standout highlights was the Women With Altitude weekend event in the Mournes; an inspiring initiative that gave so many women the chance to build confidence, develop new skills, and connect through shared adventures. A huge thank you to everyone who took part in our recent members’ survey, which had an excellent response. Your input is helping shape the future of Mountaineering Ireland. We also loved seeing so many of you online for our AGM. It was great to connect, share ideas, and have some really meaningful discussions. Training and personal growth remain at the heart of what we do. Many members are working toward awards and certifications, and it’s brilliant to see such commitment. If your club hasn’t yet explored the Club Leadership We l come
6 We l come training, now’s a great time to get involved. And if you or someone you know is new to hiking, our Happy Hiking programme is the perfect way to start. We’ve also been busy behind the scenes, working on access issues across the island to make sure everyone can continue to enjoy our beautiful outdoors. A special shoutout to those who joined us for the Mountain Environment Weekend in Wicklow. It was a weekend full of learning, inspiring talks and a deeper appreciation for our natural world. Congratulations to all who participated in the recent Irish Bouldering and Lead Climbing Championships; both were tremendous successes, showcasing great talent and dedication. Finally, we wish you a safe and productive summer, wherever it takes you. As always, we are here if you or your club need any assistance or guidance along the way. Liam Feeley Mountaineering Ireland CEO MOUNTAIN LOG EDITORIAL Contributions of features, news items and photographs for the Mountain Log are always welcome and should be sent to the editor at: [email protected] Contributors’ guidelines can be downloaded from the website at: www. bit.ly/Log-guidelines To join Mountaineering Ireland and receive four issues of the Mountain Log each year, please also go to the website at: www.mountaineering.ie Write for the Log ON THE COVER Trekking to Grinnell Lake, Glacier National Park, Montana. By Jim Ryan (see story, page 48)
7 MOUNTAIN LOG ISSUE 153 The Mountain Log is the membership magazine of Mountaineering Ireland. The organisation promotes the interests of hillwalkers and climbers in Ireland GENERAL ENQUIRIES [email protected] 00353 (0)1 625 1115 MOUNTAINEERING IRELAND Mountaineering Ireland Ltd is a company limited by guarantee and registered in Dublin, No 199053. Registered office: Irish Sport HQ, National Sports Campus, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15, Ireland Tel: (+353 1) 625 1115 Fax: (+353 1) 625 1116 [email protected] www.mountaineering.ie Editor: Cóilín MacLochlainn Tel: (+353 1) 294 3459 [email protected] Features Editor: Nicky Hore Books Editor: Indira Nair [email protected] The Mountain Log is published by Mountaineering Ireland four times a year, in March, June, September, December. The material published in the Log by the voluntary editorial team as well as contributors’ opinions must not be taken as official Mountaineering Ireland policy unless specifically stated COPY DEADLINE for the Autumn 2025 issue of the Mountain Log is: Friday, August 15th 2025 ADVERTISING: Contact us at [email protected] PRODUCTION: Cóilín MacLochlainn, [email protected] PARTICIPATION AND RISK Readers of the Mountain Log are reminded that hillwalking and climbing are activities with a danger of personal injury or death. Participants in these activities should be aware of and accept these risks, and be responsible for their own actions and involvement. Mountaineering Ireland publishes and promotes safety and good practice advice and through the Mountain Training Board of Ireland administers a range of training programmes for walkers and climbers STAFF & BOARD CEO Liam Feeley [email protected] Administration Officer Siobhán Quinn, [email protected] Access & Environment Manager Helen Lawless, [email protected] Accountant Mark Tallon, [email protected] Climbing Development Officer Michael Duffy, [email protected] Digital Engagement and Programme Officer Laura Griffin, [email protected] Hillwalking Manager Ruth Whelan, [email protected] Hillwalking & Environment Officer Christina McInerney, [email protected] National Children’s Officer Pamela Bastable [email protected] Performance Lead Jackie Newton, [email protected] Training Administrator Julie Carolan, [email protected] Training Officer Jane Carney, [email protected] Youth Development Officer Northern Ireland Ricky Bell, [email protected] 0044 (0) 79315 32968 GET IRELAND WALKING +353 (0)1 625 1109 Programme Manager Jason King, [email protected] Communications & Administration Officer Linda Sankey, [email protected] National Development Officer Natalia Pocelujko [email protected] MOUNTAINEERING IRELAND BOARD OFFICERS Rita Connell (President) [email protected] David Pollard (Chairperson) [email protected] Noel Caffrey (Vice-Chairperson) [email protected] BOARD MEMBERS Alan Lauder, Chair, Access & Conservation Committee [email protected] Brian Kennan Chair, Hillwalking Committee [email protected] Jacquelyn Moore [email protected] Martha Burton [email protected] Mary McGrath [email protected] Ravit Yanay [email protected] Trish Walsh [email protected]
8 NEWS
MOUNTAIN LOG NEWS 9 Pictured this page: Christina McInerney examines an insect captured by John Cromie at the Mountain Environment Weekend in Glendalough in June. Photo: Helen Lawless Previous page: Clockwise from left: Danny Parker and Andrew Burr at the top of the Axe Blade sea stack in Donegal; Wicklow Trails app; participants in the Mountain Environment Weekend at Glendalough; Eimir McSwiggan competing at the Ice Climbing World Cup in Saas Fee, Switzerland in January 2024. Images: Iain Millar, WicklowTrails.ie, Alan Lauder, Vladek Zumr MOUNTAIN ENVIRONMENT WEEKEND Helen Lawless reports Generous rain did not dampen the discussion and learning at Mountaineering Ireland’s Mountain Environment Weekend in Glendalough in June, the first time this event has taken place in Wicklow. It all started with an excellent presentation by Ann Fitzpatrick about the work of Wicklow Mountains National Park, the challenge of having 40% of Ireland’s population within an hour’s drive, and the positivity of work to improve habitat condition through native tree-planting, deer culling and peatland restoration. Saturday morning, John Cromie braved the midges to share the beauty of a selection of some 50 moth species trapped overnight. Lorna Kelly then introduced participants to the work of the Wicklow Uplands Council before we braved the rain. Wet ground conditions prompted a change of plan, abandoning Tonelagee for the more durable paths and schist summit of Derrybawn. With the ground being wet and soft, our group of 15 people would have churned up peat on Tonelagee’s boggy slopes, worsening damage that is already a concern for the national park. This provided a good example of the flexibility that clubs and other groups are asked to exercise to help protect the mountains we get so much benefit from.
MOUNTAIN LOG NEWS 10 The changed route provided an opportunity for Alan Lauder (ecologist and Chair of Mountaineering Ireland’s Access & Conservation Committee) to get us thinking about trees, contrasting the deer-grazed woodland floor along the Green Road with the growth within the fenced exclosures below Derrybawn. Geologist Anthea Lacchia took us through the formation of the Wicklow Mountains and their subsequent sculpting by glaciation, while Hugh McLindon from Wicklow Mountains National Park kept us focused on the impact of our footfall depending on the surface beneath our boots. Between the showers, John Cromie captured moths, caterpillars and craneflies for us to look at, with he and Alan reminding us of their role in the ecosystem. At the summit of Derrybawn the landscape impact of the extensive conifer plantation north of Mullacor caught people’s attention. Given its location at the heart of the national park, most of the group were surprised to learn this forestry is owned by Coillte. The potential of this forest for landscape-scale woodland restoration as part of the national park was one of the key takeaways from the weekend. A fun Scrabble activity on the way down encouraged participants to think about how we can encourage love, care and respect for the mountains. Back at the hostel there was a discussion about access issues before dinner in the Wicklow Heather restaurant. Pictured this page: Anthea Lacchia explains the geology of Glendalough and the Wicklow Mountains. Photo: Alan Lauder
11 MOUNTAIN LOG NEWS Fauna and f l ora Sunday started with a short tour of the monastic city with Joan Power from the OPW, followed by a display of photos from Saturday, then off to the Wicklow Gap for an ascent of Turlough Hill. After discussing the development and role of the pumped hydro power station and looking at rare clubmoss plants on the hill, we descended to the Glenealo valley. Our discussions again considered habitat condition, particularly the impact of the non-native Sika Deer. We saw bare peat vulnerable to being washed away, a lack of plant diversity and the absence of native trees, other than a lonely Mountain Ash protected between two granite boulders. The need to recognise deer as an invasive species and for concerted action to reduce Wicklow’s deer population was another key takeaway. Down in the Glendalough valley, archaeologist Graeme Warren provided a wider perspective on the valley as a post-industrial landscape, where treefelling had already commenced before the monastic site was established in the 6th century. We looked at the difference in the hillside that shows the contact between the granite and the mica schist. That contact is where minerals such as lead gathered when the molten granite rose up into the Pictured this page: A rare Stag’s-horn Clubmoss growing on Turlough Hill during the weekend. Photo: Helen Lawless
MOUNTAIN LOG NEWS 12 Earth’s crust 405 million years ago. In time, that made the Glendalough, Glendasan and Glenmalure valleys Ireland’s most important area for lead mining. Incidentally, what is referred to as the ‘Miners Village’ is an area of former mine buildings, not where the miners lived. Coming towards the view across to St Kevin’s Bed and Teampall na Skellig, Graeme asked us what we thought was the most common monument in the Glendalough valley? Not churches, it’s actually charcoal production platforms, with more than 100 of these recorded in the valley, mostly dating from the 1700s. Trees were felled and burnt under controlled conditions to produce charcoal for export to Britain for use in iron smelting. Near the upper lake we looked at two cairns adorned with cross slabs that date from the 7th or 8th century. Recent archaeological excavation of one of the cairns discovered a pint glass and cigarette butts, showing that the cairn had been completely rebuilt in the mid-20th century. Reflecting on human interaction with upland landscapes over time, we looked to the future and the potential to focus people’s increased appetite for hiking and nature connection into advocacy for a positive vision for the future of Ireland’s mountains. In the wrap-up discussion, people said they enjoyed the diversity of topics covered over the weekend, the fact that no specific knowledge was needed Pictured this page: Four of the guides on the weekend, from left: Anthea Lacchia, John Cromie, Alan Lauder and Hugh McLindon. Photo: Helen Lawless
13 MOUNTAIN LOG NEWS Pictured above: Archaeologist Graeme Warren gave us fascinating insights on the history of Glendalough and its many monuments and artefacts. Photo: Helen Lawless Pictured below: Yellow Dung Fly photographed during the weekend. Photo: John Cromie to participate, and all agreed that what we learned would enrich our days in the mountains. Mountaineering Ireland extends thanks to all the volunteers who contributed to this event and the organisations who collaborated with us to make our 2025 Mountain Environment Weekend so valuable and memorable. * * * * * * ➠ If you’d like to participate in events like this, Mountaineering Ireland is hosting an access and environment day in Connemara on Saturday, July 26th, and a similar event at Errigal on Saturday, September 27th, in conjunction with Cairde na hEaragaile. For more information please email [email protected].
MOUNTAIN LOG NEWS 14 MOUNTAINEERING IRELAND AGM 2025 By Siobhán Quinn, Mountaineering Ireland Company Secretary Mountaineering Ireland’s AGM was held as an online meeting on Tuesday, May 27th, 2025. It was hosted from Mountaineering Ireland’s office at Irish Sport HQ, Dublin. There were 57 voting club members present, representing 44 clubs. Six individual and honorary members also attended. The Chairperson, David Pollard, opened the meeting by welcoming everyone, confirming there was a quorum and explaining the voting procedure. As there were no motions put forward for this AGM the standing orders were taken as adopted and the minutes of the 2023 AGM held on May 28th, 2024 were approved by the voting members. Cha i rperson ’ s address David Pollard presented a summary of the key activities and outcomes for 2024, under the headings: Our Organisation; Supporting Participation; Our Mountains; and Competition Climbing. You can read the full Chairperson’s address in the 2024 Annual Report. This is available at www.mountaineering.ie/content/AnnualReports/79. The AGM granted full membership to the following aspirant clubs: Gabhair Dall – Burren Climbing Club Kickham Walkers Trail Criú Trail Criú Munster Viatris Hiking & Adventure Club Mary McGrath, Board member and Chair of the Finance Audit & Risk Committee, presented the financial statements for 2024, highlighting the following points: ● Unqualified audit opinion, with no audit issues arising ● Net deficit for 2024 of €7,892 ● Deficit is covered by reserves ● Revenue reserve at year end, 31 December 2024: €200,194 ● During 2024, the Board approved an amendment to the Reserves policy to combine the Revenue and Special Reserve and conduct a formal review of reserves levels every two years.
MOUNTAIN LOG NEWS 15 Mary also presented details and graphs on income and expenditure in 2024. This information is all contained in the Financial Statement section of our 2024 Annual Report. Delegates were given the opportunity to raise questions on the financial statements, after which they were adopted by the meeting. OSK Chartered Accounts were appointed as Auditors for 2025. Mountaineering Ireland’s CEO Liam Feeley presented the Safeguarding and Anti-Doping Statements. Mary McGrath, Ravit Yanay and Trish Walsh were elected as ordinary members to the Board of Directors of Mountaineering Ireland. Rita Connell, President of Mountaineering Ireland, thanked David, Mary, Liam, Siobhán and the Mountaineering Ireland staff team for hosting and supporting the AGM. Rita also thanked the club and individual members for attending. She thanked Liam and all the staff for their hard work and congratulated them on a successful year for Mountaineering Ireland. She expressed her appreciation to David as Chair, and all the Board members, for their hard work and giving of their time to the organisation and extended her thanks to committee chairs, committee members and all the volunteers who work on behalf of and represent Mountaineering Ireland. Finally, Rita expressed many thanks to Dave Ayton and Alistair Wilson, who have come to the end of their term on the Board, for all their work and contribution on the Board over the past three years. Pictured this page: Some Mountaineering Ireland membership statistics from the 2024 Annual Report.
MOUNTAIN LOG NEWS 16 ICE CLIMBING CHAMPION JOINS OUR TEAM Mountaineering Ireland appoints Eimir McSwiggan as new Performance Coordinator Mountaineering Ireland is delighted to announce the appointment of Eimir McSwiggan as its new Performance Coordinator, succeeding Jackie Newton, who is departing the organisation in July to take up a new role as Athletics Director with Danish Athletics. As many of you will know, Eimir is a world-class ice climber who has represented Ireland and medalled at the top tier of international events. Eimir (42) is from Gortin, Co Tyrone. Eimir brings with her a strong background in high-performance sport and a deep connection to the Irish climbing community. She has long been a passionate advocate for the development of Irish climbing talent. Her appointment marks a significant step in the ongoing evolution of performance climbing in Ireland. “Her passion, experience and deep understanding of climbing make her the perfect fit to lead our athletes forward,” said Mountaineering Ireland CEO, Liam Feeley. “I have no doubt that under Eimir McSwiggan’s guidance, Irish performance climbing will continue to grow and thrive.” Eimir will work closely with Jackie over the coming weeks to ensure a smooth transition and continuity for athletes, coaches and partners, as Mountaineering Ireland moves into the next phase of performance development. Reflecting on her time with Mountaineering Ireland, Jackie said she was very grateful to have had the opportunity to work with Mountaineering Ireland and to lead the coaches, teams and squads on their performance pathway. “Stepping away is going to be incredibly hard,” she said. “The climbing community has made me very welcome, and I am excited about the success that will certainly come down the line because of the passion and hard work that I see every day.” Pictured this page: Eimir McSwiggan taking part in a panel discussion during the 2022 General Assembly of the UIAA (Union Internationale des Associations d’Alpinisme, the International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation) in Banff, Canada in October 2022. Photo: UIAA
MOUNTAIN LOG NEWS 17 Liam said Jackie had played a transformative role in shaping the future of performance climbing. “Drawing on her extensive experience, Jackie established a strong foundation that will now be built upon by Eimir and the wider team. “We are deeply grateful to Jackie for her leadership and commitment over the past year. She has set a high standard and established strong foundations for success. Her impact on Irish performance climbing has been significant and lasting. “On behalf of everyone at Mountaineering Ireland, I want to thank Jackie for her outstanding contribution and dedication.” ANOTHER NEW APPOINTMENT Mountaineering Ireland appoints Christina McInerney as new Hillwalking and Environment Officer Following the departure earlier this year of Caoilainn McDaid, Christina McInerney recently joined Mountaineering Ireland in the role of Hillwalking & Environment Officer. Christina studied environmental science in the University of Limerick, where she was heavily involved in the college’s Outdoor Pursuits Club, as a hike leader and climbing instructor, and sat on the club’s committee as secretary and then chairperson. After finishing her studies, she worked as an environmental, health and safety engineer before making the switch away from industry. Having been a keen hiker from an early age – many of her favourite memories are of getting out on Ireland’s hills over her summer holidays while in primary school – she is currently hoping to work her way through the Irish Hewitts (hills that are 2,000 feet or higher) that remain on her list, with just over 70 of these summited since she started ticking them off. Pictured this page: Christina McInerney. Photo: Helen Lawless
MOUNTAIN LOG NEWS Christina has been very involved in climbing, after picking up the sport in early 2016 at the age of 15. Besides competitive climbing, she tries to climb outdoors whenever possible enjoying everything from bouldering to trad. Over the last few years, she has been getting out to the Alps for some summer alpine mountaineering and is always looking to expand her skillset in all aspects of both hiking and climbing. Christina is thrilled that her new role in Mountaineering Ireland combines her interest in the environment with her lifelong passion for outdoor sports – and aims to advocate for the environment while also promoting participation in the activities that she loves. 18 Pictured this page: Christina McInerney walking off Mount Brandon on the Dingle Peninsula in County Kerry
MOUNTAIN LOG NEWS 19 BOOKLET ON ACCESS TO THE OUTDOORS Mountaineering Ireland has worked with other members of Comhairle na Tuaithe, the national advisory body on outdoor recreation, to produce a new publication on access to the outdoors in Ireland and relevant provisions in the Occupiers’ Liability Act. The booklet was launched by the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht Dara Calleary TD at the National Outdoor Recreation Conference in Limerick on June 26th. Speaking at the conference, Mountaineering Ireland CEO Liam Feeley said “I’m proud that Mountaineering Ireland has led the development of this booklet on behalf of Comhairle na Tuaithe. It will improve understanding and help support responsible outdoor recreation. “I thank our Access & Environment Manager Helen Lawless for her work on the booklet, and I extend sincere thanks to barrister and Mountaineering Ireland member Cormac Ó Dúlacháin for his voluntary input.” Titled ‘Recreation in Ireland’s Outdoors,’ the booklet is aimed at landowners and everyone who uses Ireland’s outdoors for recreation, education or related activities. It includes a summary Pictured this page: Comhairle na Tuaithe members with Minister Dara Calleary at the National Outdoor Recreation Conference in Limerick in June. Photo: Niamh McGuinness
MOUNTAIN LOG NEWS 20 of key court judgments, including the Wicklow Way case in 2017, and information on changes to the Occupiers’ Liability Act that came into effect in 2023. The changes to the legislation include: ● Voluntary Assumption of Risk – The most important point for Mountaineering Ireland members and others engaged in outdoor recreation is that voluntary assumption of risk is now the law. This change embeds in legislation a long-established principle that participants in outdoor recreation activities take responsibility for their own safety. As Mountaineering Ireland’s participation statement* highlights, we need to be aware of the risks in the activities we do and to take responsibility for our own actions. ● Structures – The 2023 revisions to the Occupiers’ Liability Act have also limited the duty of care an occupier owes in respect of structures for use primarily by recreational users, such as stiles, gates, footbridges or similar structures. There remains a duty to take reasonable care to Pictured this page: On the Beenkeragh Ridge, McGillycuddy’s Reeks. Photo: Helen Lawless * Mountaineering Ireland recognises that hillwalking, climbing and mountaineering are activities with a danger of personal injury or death. Participants should be aware of and accept these risks and be responsible for their own actions and involvement.
MOUNTAIN LOG NEWS 21 maintain the structure in a safe condition. However, this duty is heavily qualified, with a range of factors to be taken into account in court. Overall, the changes to the Occupiers’ Liability Act rebalance the duty of care in favour of landowners and occupiers, giving further protection to landowners. The booklet provides information that should be useful and reassuring to landowners. ‘Recreation in Ireland’s Outdoors’ is published by the Department of Rural & Community Development on behalf of Comhairle na Tuaithe. Mountaineering Ireland led the development of this booklet on behalf of the Comhairle, helping to deliver on an important action within ‘Embracing Ireland’s Outdoors: The National Outdoor Recreation Strategy 2023-2027.’ You can read the ‘Recreation in Ireland’s Outdoors’ booklet online at www.mountaineering.ie/news/?id=593. To request a hard copy of the booklet, which is available in English and Irish, email [email protected]. For other queries on this topic email [email protected]. WICKLOW TRAILS APP LAUNCHED By Aaron Byrne, Rural Recreation Officer, County Wicklow Partnership A Wicklow Trails app was launched in March after a long process of information-gathering and discussion about what the county needed to make people aware of the amenities in Wicklow around waymarked trails. Pictured this page: A Wicklow Trails app sign. Photo: Helen Lawless
MOUNTAIN LOG NEWS 22 It was thought that maybe there wasn’t an easily accessible ‘go to’ place for all the information, and it was decided to make a digital library that could be of use for reference. Well, that was the original plan, but thankfully the Local Sports Partnership heard about it at a Wicklow Outdoor Recreation Committee meeting and asked if they could join forces. From there it morphed into a much better resource, adding ‘rewards’ and ‘latest news’ and other functions such as issue reporting and the ability to sign up to receive news flashes relating to a trail. For more on this, see https://wicklowtrails.ie. Further developments are on the way, as we have learned so much about the functionality and possibilities of the app. We hope to add more information, particularly about heritage sites and flora and fauna. Currently, you can filter trails by type, distance and grade, and very easily select the trails closest to your location. The system will log a walk you do, and this will go into your ‘completed trails’ section. From there, you can target types of walks – for instance, all the easy ones or the difficult ones – and, when you get enough logged, we will send you a small gift! It’s a token, but the hope is that it will encourage people. Who doesn’t want a free buff or beanie? The aim is to promote exploration and to promote more responsible activity across the county. The impact is still being understood, but the amount of visitors and downloads the App has had has been really promising – at time of print, almost 15,000 downloads! Further analysis will tell how many people are using the various functions and this, of course, will drive further development when we get a better idea what people really want from the Wicklow Trails app. Many thanks to all involved for a lot of work and patience – Gordon Shaw, Claire Byrne, Aishling Hubbard, Carol Coad, Sheena Hubbard, the teams at Evolve Technologies and Lighthouse Design.
MOUNTAIN LOG NEWS 23 NEW ISSUE OF HISTORICAL JOURNAL A new issue of the Journal of the Irish Mountaineering and Exploration Historical Society has been published by Mountaineering Ireland. Edited by Kevin Higgins, Volume 5 of the journal contains the following feature articles: ● Booleying, by Kevin Myers ● The Comeragh Mountains: Their Lakes and Legends (Parts I and II), which was written by ‘MEM’ in 1849 ● From Famine Ship to Sierra Summit: The Story of Dick Cotter, by Kevin Higgins ● Au Naturel, an intriguing account by Susan Gavan Duffy of her experience of living in Salvan in the Swiss Alps in the 1890s ● The Story and Related Incidents by My Caves of the Vignemale, by Count Henry Russell (translated from French by Áine Ni Chaoimh) ● An Irish Witness to the Disappearance of Mallory and Irvine, by Jim Murphy ● The Poisoned Glen 1950–1970, by Peter Cooper ● The First Ascent of Spearhead, Luggala, by John Duignan. Copies of the journal (price €7; €10 including postage), may be purchased from Mountaineering Ireland.
CLUB SUPPORT REGIONAL MEETINGS Calling all clubs – Mountaineering Ireland is pleased to invite club committee members and active club members to attend one of our regional meetings for club representatives this autumn. These in-person events are designed to bring clubs together at a local level to share ideas, address common challenges and build stronger connections across the hillwalking and climbing community. Each meeting will provide a relaxed and informative setting where members can network with other clubs in their area, gain valuable insights from Mountaineering Ireland staff and engage in open discussion on topics relevant to their club’s development and day-to-day running. Dates and l ocat i ons ● Galway 24 September ● Newry 1 October ● Dublin 7 October ● Dungarvan 2 November ● Killarney 5 November Time 7.00pm Tea/coffee and networking 7.30–9.30pm Meeting and discussions Who should at tend Club committee members and engaged club members – whether new to the role or experienced. 24
MOUNTAIN LOG NEWS 25 What to expec t ● Updates from Mountaineering Ireland staff ● Q&A sessions ● Small group discussions on training, access and environment, and club development ● A relaxed, engaging evening focused on your club’s growth Staff in attendance will include Ruth Whelan (Hillwalking), Helen Lawless (Access and Environment), and Jane Carney (Training), ready to support and answer your questions. Register now at www.mountaineering.ie/events/default.aspx?id=591. We look forward to seeing you there! AUTUMN GATHERING: OCTOBER 2025 Mountaineering Ireland’s Autumn Gathering 2025 is coming — and this year we’re teaming up with Sliabh Hiking for an unforgettable weekend based in the stunning Comeragh Mountains, Co Waterford. ● Date 31st October – 2nd November 2025 ● Location Comeragh Mountains, Waterford ● Venue The Park Hotel, Dungarvan Make sure to mention you are booking as a Mountaineering Ireland member to get a special rate of €225 per person sharing for 2 nights bed and breakfast. Mark your calendar – you won’t want to miss it! Registration will open soon!
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MOUNTAIN LOG NEWS 27 DONEGAL TRAD Sea stack climbs in 2024 By Iain Miller The sea stacks of Donegal were busy over 2024, with a number of excellent new routes climbed and several significant repeats. In April, Stephen Frawley and Lisa Murdiff added the excellent Helicopter, an HS 4b, to Na hOileáin. This pretty much completes the development of this archipelago of sea stacks and island just to the north of Cruit Island. In May and June, several excellent lines were added to Tor Leice Riseach by visiting climbers Tom Booth, Almasa Pasalic and Lisa Murdiff. The best of these lines is An Líne is Fear E1 5a which takes the deep and steep crack line running up the centre of the stack’s seaward face. Last September, visiting American climbers Danny Parker, Ashling Cracoft, Andy Burr and Kev Meleta took great advantage of a spell of über calm in the deep blue. They spent a week in the county and got the second ascent of Stac an Iolar off Árainn Mhór, climbing the 13-year-old route Blood Line XS up the stack’s seaward face. Pictured this page: Stephen Frawley and Lisa Murdiff on the first ascent of Helicopter HS 4b on Na hOileáin. Photo: Iain Miller Previous page: Danny Parker and Andrew Burr at the top of Axe Blade. Photo: Iain Miller
MOUNTAIN LOG NEWS 28 Next up was a second ascent of the route Axe Blade MXS 5b, on Tor Glas, just south of An Port. This route was climbed in 2012 by Mick and Nikki Fowler and climbs the arête that lies above Stac an Bhig. A swift visit to An Buidéal saw the second and third ascents of each of this stack’s twin summits. Just before the weather returned to normal, they also climbed the first ascent of Spuaic Bhailt Thoir, an E4 6b struggle through a contortion roof on the seaward face of the stack – not a bad trip at all! For more information about the sea stacks of Donegal, please visit: https://uniqueascent.ie/sea-stack-guide ABOUT THE AUTHOR Iain Miller is a rock climber and guidebook author, living, working and playing on the sea cliffs, sea stacks, mountain ranges and uninhabited islands of County Donegal. Amongst many first ascents, Iain has found and climbed at least 50 sea stacks to date, and he is always on the quest for adventure! ➠ If you have any Crag News or articles for the next issue of the Log, please send your content to Michael Duffy at [email protected]. REPORTING INCIDENTS AND NEAR MISSES The British Mountaineering Council (BMC) has created an online system for reporting incidents and near misses in hiking, climbing and mountaineering. The purpose of this is to encourage reflection and share learnings, with the aim of reducing the potential for future incidents. Mountaineering Ireland and Mountaineering Scotland members are also encouraged to use this facility. To find out more about this, or to add an incident to the database, go to www.mountaineering.ie/content/IncidentAndNearMissReporting/258. You can search the database yourself for the full range of incidents reported. Most of the reports submitted have been for climbing and mountaineering. It would be beneficial to have more hillwalking reports.
MOUNTAIN LOG NEWS 29 A breakdown of 379 incidents nationwide to which Mountain Rescue Ireland’s eleven mountain rescue teams responded in 2024. This infographic is from Mountain Rescue Ireland’s latest annual report.
30 MY PATH TO THE LOWLAND LEADER AWARD By Simon Holmes My parents met in a swimming club, when much of its activities were outdoors, and that rubbed off on me. I’ve been a keen swimmer all my life, and I love the ocean. However, I spent many of my weekends as a youth in the Dublin and Wicklow mountains, and I maintained my interest in the outdoors over seventeen years while living and working in England, southeast Asia, eastern Europe and the Balkans, and spending some time in central Asia. I enjoyed scuba diving – I became a PADI Divemaster – and also sailing – I gained a Day Skipper certificate – and I had fun skiing in winter while living and travelling in colder climes. I was fond of walking and hiking too during my travels, in time away from work. I joined Mountaineering Ireland in 2019 and took a Mountain Skills 1 course with professional mountain leader Wayne Jenkins in Wicklow. I and the other course participants had fun learning navigation and other practical and useful walking skills and hearing about Wayne’s experiences as a mountain rescue volunteer. Pictured this page: Lowland Leader candidates during the Lowland Leader Assessment. Photo: Simon Holmes
MOUNTAIN LOG NEWS 31 I then set off on the Camino Frances through France and northern Spain; this included crossing the Pyrenees in the first few days of the hike. I had an enoyable time completing the course and the subsequent camino, and I completed Mountain Skills 2 with Wayne soon after my return. Covid then intervened, but I finally got to do my Mountain Skills Assessment in 2021, this time in the Paps with Tim Orr. Tim was encouraging, and so, shortly afterwards I decided to commence the Mountain Leader (ML) programme. I did my ML1 and later ML2 training with Iain Miller of Unique Ascent in Donegal, both good experiences in a great location. As often happens, a few things in life then intervened, but I’ve been getting plenty of walking in around Ireland and in Britain, though I haven’t got to do my Mountain Leader Assessment yet. But then I learned about the Lowland Leader qualification last year, when it was suggested to me that it would be a positive stepping stone along the road to ML. I completed my Lowland Leader Assessment recently with Nathan Kingerlee of Outdoors Ireland in Glengarriff, in west Cork. We enjoyed some lovely walking in the Caha Mountains, along the Beara Way, and I did some sea kayaking in Glengarriff Bay with Outdoors Ireland, while in the area. Pictured this page: Taking a break during the Lowland Leader Assessment. Photo: Simon Holmes
MOUNTAIN LOG NEWS 32 If you’ve done Mountain Leader training, you can do the Lowland Leader Assessment without having to do further training. Alternatively, you can do Lowland Leader training on the road to the assessment and, like the Mountain Leader programme, there is a consolidation period involving gaining experience in different regions and leading groups. The Lowland Leader programme is probably more weighted toward planning hikes, group experience and leadership skills, together with nature and conservation information, all of which I enjoyed. Also, like the Mountain Leader programme, it requires strong navigation and emergency management skills. A current outdoor first aid course is also required. The remit of the Lowland Leader is day walking, broadly anywhere there is a trail or track marked on a map and visible on the ground, and where navigation across untracked areas is not required. Also, the group should generally be no more than 3km away from a key access point, such as a lay-by, a car park or populated area. Walks must use bridges or other recognised water crossing points. In Ireland, this includes a lot of terrain, from coastal walks to lowland tracks and trails. The Lowland Leader is an admirable outdoor leadership qualification in its own right, particularly if you’re not planning on taking groups to very remote areas and are happy to work on visible tracks and trails marked on maps. As I said, this covers a lot of ground in Ireland and takes in many great day and multi-day hikes. I am a keen outdoor photographer and am looking forward to combining my Lowland Leader work with my photography and walking. I’m still swimming most of the year and I got some skiing in recently, but I haven’t been scuba diving for a while; it's something I miss. I would definitely recommend the Lowland Leader qualification to anyone interested in taking it on. Pictured this page: A view towards the Caha Mountains from the Beara Way, taken during the Lowland Leader Assessment. Photo: Simon Holmes
MOUNTAIN LOG NEWS 33 ABOUT THE AUTHOR Simon Holmes is a member of Mountaineering Ireland and has a keen interest in hillwalking and photography. He has participated in Mountaineering Ireland’s Climate Response Working Group. Simon runs a landscape photography and hillwalking business. For more details, see https://escape2nature.ie. ➠ You can find out more about the Lowland Leader Award on our website at www.mountaineering.ie/content/LowlandLeader/98. CROSSWORD RESULTS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 U K K K C H O R S E S H O E E N O K O O I A I X L M E V L S C A R R R P O W A S A K W K M T A N G O L A W B S M A S T R A O N C O E A T G B A L P S D G R A R A L N A E M S E E A A S A G P R S P I N C L M N E A A W E N V H T L C E G A L W A Y B A Y Y The winner of our crossword in Mountain Log 152 was Gerard O’Sullivan from Drumcondra, Dublin 9, who won a pair of Salomon XA PRO 3D V9 GTX shoes, a prize worth €169.95 from our crossword sponsor Basecamp. The solution to the crossword is shown below. Mountaineering Ireland will contact the winner to inform him how to collect his prize. Salamon XA PRO 3D V9 GTX shoes
MOUNTAIN LOG NEWS 34 THANKS FOR RESPONSES TO SURVEY Mountaineering Ireland extends a sincere thank you to everyone who took the time to complete our recent survey on your thoughts and ideas on Mountaineering Ireland’s future direction. We were delighted with the exceptional response, and your feedback has been instrumental in shaping the development of our new Strategy for 2026–2029. A special thank you also to those who participated in our strategy focus groups – your insights and contributions have been invaluable. The new strategy is on track to be launched this autumn, and we look forward to sharing it with you soon. Survey pr i ze wi nners The winners of our survey prizes were as follows: Niall Doherty, University of Galway Mountaineering Club Prize: Mountain Equipment Makalu Jacket Denise Farrelly, Enniscrone Walking Club Prize: €150 voucher for Great Outdoors Ashling Granahan, non-member Prize: €50 voucher for Great Outdoors Thank you once again for your continued support and engagement.
MOUNTAIN LOG NEWS 35 7 nights B&B, lunch on walking days, airport and hiking shuttles provided Large group discounts available Itinerary developed specifically for level of group 7 Nights – 5 Hikes – I Rest Day Prices starting from€1,050pps ● Walks led by qualified mountain guides (UIMLA) ● Via Ferrata, High Mountain and hut to hut packages available ✆ 086 196 7141 ✉ [email protected] www.brittonoutdoors.com SIERRA NEVADA, SPAIN 2026 bookings now open Contact: ESCAPE TO GLENGARRIFF! Affordable accommodation in the heart of West Cork. Private rooms, family rooms and dorms available – perfect for hikers, cyclists, couples, families and explorers. Best rates available on our website – scan QR code: Glengarriff Hostel, P75 N273 W: glenhostel.ie T: +353 85 777 7837 E: [email protected] Facebook: Glengarriff Hostel Instagram: glengarriff_hostel
HILLWALK ROUTES No 2: THE COOLEYS A WALK IN THE COOLEYS A walk that combines everything: Irish mythical folklore, easy scrambling, ridge walking, a strenuous descent and fantastic views Anne Morrissey reports 36
Nothing beats the views from this route on a sunny day. It is possible to see all the way to Wicklow in the south and to Carlingford Lough (with views of Newry, Warrenpoint and Rostrevor) and the Mournes to the north. Starting and finishing at sea level, it is a challenging walk, despite never going over an elevation of 600m. The full walk, as described here, takes in six summits. For anyone interested in summiteering (mountainviews.ie), these are: two Arderins: Slieve Foye (587m) and Eagle’s Rock (530m); two Carns: the Raven’s Rock (457m), which is actually the Split Rock or Slé Rua, and the Foxes Rock (404m); a Binion: Barnavave (350m); and an Arderin Beg: Slieve Foye NW Top (548m). Slieve Foye is also a county high point (Louth). In addition to the spectacular views, the Cooley peninsula is home to the epic tale of the Cattle Raid of Cooley, which tells of a battle over the Brown Bull of Cooley between Queen Méabh of Connacht and the champion Cú Chulainn from the Kingdom of Ulster. In addition, it is said that Slieve Foye takes its form from the body of the sleeping giant Fionn Mac Cumhaill. Pictured this page: Hillwalk route around the Cooley Mountains, Co Louth. Map: EastWest Mapping Previous page: Yvonne Cotter (left) and Anne Morrissey at Goalyin Pass with Slieve Foye in the background. Photo: Anne Morrissey collection MOUNTAIN LOG HILLWALK ROUTES 37
38 The route also takes in Barnavave, which is an anglicised version of Bearna Mhéabha (Méabh’s Gap). Legend has it that Meabh’s army dug a gap in the mountain so that the track they made might remain there for ever as an insult to the men of Ulster. Apart from the myths and legends, there is a lot of evidence of the Cooleys’ rich historical past in its passage graves, portal tombs and in the town of Carlingford itself, which contains a medieval castle built in 1190, called Carlingford Castle or King John’s Castle. For readers who would like to learn more about this part of Ireland’s Ancient East, or to walk the full 41km of the Táin Way, further information can be found at www.alltrails.com/trail/ireland/county-louth/the-tain-way. THE ROUTE Starting in Carlingford, Co Louth, where there is ample parking, the walk ascends uphill out of the town. The first section of the walk is part of the Commons Loop, going over a stile at about 1km. However, this route diverges from the Commons Loop at 1.2km by turning right, up a grassy track to the Goalyin Pass at 300m elevation and 2.5km. Pictured this page: The view back towards Meabh’s Gap from Slieve Foye. Photo: Derek Watters
39 It is also possible to cut across the mountain directly to Barnavave, but the ground underfoot is very rough and, from summer onwards, is covered in bracken. At the Goalyin Pass, head south-east (left) on the path to Barnavave, with its two summits with the aforementioned Meabh’s Gap in between. The higher summit has a cross, while the slightly lower summit has a trig point. Retracing your steps back to the Goalyin Pass (4km), head up the very well defined path towards Slieve Foye. There are some waymarkers along the way to the top of Slieve Foye; however, these are not consistent and would be very difficult to see in mist. As the ground flattens out towards the top, the number of tracks increases. However, the actual top is obvious, with its trig point on a rocky outcrop that requires a bit of a scramble to get to (6km). After admiring the views from the top of Slieve Foye, continue to head northwest towards Carlingford Mountain, following a track with intermittent markers. These markers turn back down the Two Mile River towards Carlingford at thecol between Carlingford Mountain and Eagle’s Rock, providing an option for a shorter route. However, to finish out the full route, continue along the track towards Eagle’s Rock (8km). The track bypasses the summit of Eagle’s Rock, and so, to reach the summit, continue up the gully with an easy scramble over a rocky outcrop to the top. Pictured this page: Top of Eagle’s Rock with views up Carlingford Lough towards Newry. Photo: Anne Morrissey MOUNTAIN LOG HILLWALK ROUTES
40 Retrace your steps back to the main path, which is not always obvious, and continue towards the Split Rock or Slé Rua (9.3km). As with Eagle’s Rock, the main path bypasses the actual top, so a short detour is necessary to reach the summit of the Split Rock (note: the Raven’s Rock lies further north). Once back on the path, continue towards the Foxes Rock (10.6km), crossing a broken fence and the final ascent of the day. There are a number of options to finish out the walk. One way is to descend from the Foxes Rock to the Windy Gap and to take the Omeath Road until the Táin Way is reached, and then to follow the Táin Way back to Carlingford. Another is to do a car split or arrange a lift from the Windy Gap back to Carlingford, thereby avoiding the road and trail walk back to Carlingford. The route described here descends from the Foxes Rock in a north-easterly direction, heading directly for the Táin Way at Ballyonan on the EastWest Mapping map. There is no obvious route, so care should be taken on the rough ground. It is good to pause every so often to admire the views along Carlingford Lough. Once the Táin Way is reached, follow the markers back to Carlingford. A point to note, however, is that, as a result of Storm Éowyn, just after the stile at the entrance to the forest at about 13km, there are many fallen trees, and the Táin Way has been diverted to a developing track outside of the forest. This diversion continues for about 1km, which makes the going a bit tougher than it would otherwise be. ROUTE INFORMATION Start point: Carlingford Tourist Centre, J 190 116 Distance: 18.5km Elevation gain: 950m Time: 6 to 7 hours Maps: EastWest Mapping 1:25k, Cooley Northern Ireland Discoverer Series Sheet 29 Pictured this page: Looking back from the summit carn at the Split Rock (Slé Rua) to the ridge from Eagle’s Rock to Slieve Foye. Meabh’s Gap is visible just left of the carn. Photo: Derek Watters Next page: The view across Carlingford Lough towards Slieve Martin and the Mournes. Photo: Derek Watters
41 ABOUT THE AUTHOR Anne Morrissey has been a member of the Irish Ramblers’ Club since 1990 and is the current president of the club. She “compleated” the Scottish Munros in 2011 and the Irish Arderins and the Vandeleur-Lynams in 2023. In between, she has walked in Europe, Panama, Japan, South East Asia and Colorado. THE IRISH RAMBLERS’ CLUB The Irish Ramblers’ Club was founded in 1964 and is one of the oldest and largest clubs in Ireland, with almost 700 members. Hiking on a Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, we have a wide range of hikes to suit every level of fitness. While we usually walk in Wicklow, club members have their favourite hikes in the Cooleys, the Mournes, the Slieve Blooms and the Blackstairs, all of which are reachable on a day trip from Dublin. Longer trips within Ireland and abroad are also organised by volunteers from within the club. Finally, we offer in-club training in mountain skills to all new members and basic leadership training to existing members. For more information see www.theramblers.ie. MOUNTAIN LOG HILLWALK ROUTES ➠ Would your club like to submit a hillwalking route for publication in the Irish Mountain Log, to showcase the mountains where your club walks regularly? If interested, please contact Ruth Whelan to discuss at [email protected].
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